The global steel sector is navigating a period of significant change, with tariff measures, market restrictions, and the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) reshaping industry dynamics. For Arab producers, these developments underscore the need to accelerate transition strategies and strengthen long-term competitiveness through greater collaboration.
In this context, the 18th Arab Steel Summit & International Iron and Steel Exhibition will take place in Muscat on 7-8 October 2025, hosted by Vale. MESTEEL will serve as a media partner for the event, which will explore key themes ranging from raw material supply and future market trends to new technologies shaping the industry’s path forward.
Organized by the Arab Iron and Steel Union (AISU), the summit builds on nearly two decades of regional dialogue and cooperation. More than 600 participants are expected, including around 30 international companies spanning the steel value chain, alongside international organizations contributing insights on global industry challenges and opportunities.
Vale emphasized the significance of holding Arab Steel in Oman, highlighting the country’s strategic location, industrial ambitions, and emerging green hydrogen ecosystem.
Saleh Al Musalhi, Chief Executive of Mega Hubs – Middle East and North Africa at Vale, described the summit as an opportunity to advance technologies and partnerships that support the steel sector’s decarbonization journey.
Vale is developing Mega Hubs in the Middle East, including an industrial complex in Duqm, Oman, to produce low-carbon iron ore products such as hot briquetted iron (HBI) for the global steel industry. The project is designed to cut carbon emissions while serving both local and international markets. Vale also operates a pelletizing plant in Oman with an annual capacity of 9 mln tons of direct reduction pellets, as well as a stockyard and distribution center with a throughput capacity of 40 mln tons per year.
